Halbach Cladding Magnets for Friction Reduction in Magnetic Gears

Traditional mechanical gears rely on physical teeth engagement to transfer motion and torque while magnetic gears use the repulsive or attractive forces between magnets to achieve the same goal. Magnetic gears have several advantages: low noise and vibration, reduced maintenance, and inherent overload protection. Magnetic gears are used in applications that require variable speed control and precise torque transmission, such as robotics, aircraft, and automation.

The Need

Although magnetic gears provide several advantages to their traditional mechanical counterparts, they suffer from torque transmission inefficiency due to end-effect loss, which occurs when the magnetic flux leaks axially into the surrounding air and fails to couple between the rotors. As industries seek advanced gearing solutions, there's a rising demand for technologies that offer enhanced efficiency, reduced maintenance, and quieter operation.

The Technology

These Ohio State University technologies integrate cladding magnets and Halbach array configurations, offering enhanced efficiency, torque output, and performance. In the case of cycloidal magnetic gears, the addition of cladding magnets enables higher gear ratios without the need for a flux modulator, simplifying design while maintaining or improving performance. Halbach array cladding magnets optimize magnetic efficiency and torque output, making these gears ideal for applications in spacecraft, electric aircraft, and environments with limited maintenance requirements. Similarly, in coaxial magnetic gears, cladding magnets mitigate end-effect losses and improve overall efficiency, leading to quieter operation, reduced maintenance needs, and increased torque output potential. These advancements position magnetic gears as competitive alternatives in industries requiring noise reduction, lubrication-free operation, and overload protection.

Commercial Applications

This invention can replace mechanical gears and gearboxes in many applications,including space, aerospace, wind turbines, vehicles, and many others.

Benefits/Advantages

The incorporation of cladding magnets revolutionizes magnetic gear performance. It not only boosts torque output potential and reduces end-effect losses but also reduces noise, eliminates lubrication needs, and ensures inherent overload protection. Compared to mechanical gears, this design is quieter, eliminates a gearbox, and provides sufficient torque. In addition, it does not require lubrication and provides overload protection.